For numerous families, coping with the death of a cherished one is already incredibly challenging.
Now, some third-party websites in Ontario are complicating this process by redistributing obituaries without the consent of the bereaved families, often aiming to profit from their grief.
The Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) is alerting the public, stating that these companies benefit by sharing obituaries without family approval.
In a notification featured in the spring issue of its magazine, the provincial regulatory body reveals that certain websites are copying death announcements and republishing them to market “in memory of” products like flowers, candles, and tree planting to honor deceased individuals.
While these items might seem like tributes organized by the family, the BAO cautions that this is frequently not the case. Families often receive nothing and may not even know their loved one’s obituary has appeared on another platform.
“People typically discover unauthorized obituary listings – about their fathers, mothers, grandparents, and others – when they come across them online,” stated the BAO.
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One website, Afterlife.co, was instructed by a federal court in 2019 to pay $20 million in damages after a class-action lawsuit showed it profited from reused obituaries and images. The BAO mentioned that the company subsequently shut down.
However, issues have arisen again with Echovita, a newer third-party site that appears to be functioning similarly.
As per Quebec’s business registry, the company is associated with Paco Leclerc, who was also identified as a director of Afterlife in the 2019 decision.
Users on Reddit are sharing unsettling experiences of discovering their loved ones’ obituaries on Echovita without any consent.
“My father’s obituary showed up on this site merely three hours after we published it,” one individual recounted. “They even omitted my husband’s name and all the grandkids. What a cruel addition to our pain.”
Another saddened user remarked, “They went ahead and created an incredibly inaccurate obituary. It really makes me feel sick.”
The BAO is urging the public to verify any obituary before purchasing memorial gifts.
Only rely on announcements posted on funeral home websites approved by the BAO. To confirm, look for the “Licensed by the BAO” badge on the footer of the funeral home’s homepage or contact the funeral home directly.
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